Malaria vaccine – will it sit on the shelf?

The first malaria vaccine to get through large trials cuts malaria cases by 56% and severe malaria by 47%. It's only partially effective – but that's no reason for the donors to put their money elsewhere

All credit to the scientists and doctors behind the first-ever malaria vaccine to get through large-scale trials. It would be easy to say the glass is half-empty because the vaccine prevents only 50% of cases of malaria – and also because there are signs that the protection it offers may wane over time – but that would be to devalue an amazing achievement. This is the first vaccine against a disease caused by parasites – something that 20 years ago many in the scientific community said could not be done. And halving malaria cases would cut them from 200m a year to 100m a year. There can be no doubt this vaccine has the potential to save children's lives and prevent them suffering serious harm.

The big question now is whether – at a time when money is short – donors will come forward to buy this vaccine in 2015 or so when it is ready, or whether they will want to spend the money instead on bednets or drugs and wait for an improved version. Because in the end, there will be a more effective vaccine. The hard work was to establish there could be a vaccine at all. This could get messy. GlaxoSmithKline is talking about increasing production capacity and supply chains, and keeping the cost down by licensing production to Africa or India, understandably very keen to roll out what it has got. And indeed, there is a good argument that this partially effective vaccine should be available as widely and as quickly as possible. But price is going to be absolutely critical – it has to be low, or the donors will put their money elsewhere. And at the same time, the scientists need to be encouraged to keep going.

Postscript. For anyone who doubted the significance of the trial, this is the comment on the results from Peter Hotez, president of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene:

This news on the malaria vaccine is what the moonwalk meant for the future of space exploration. This is banner news in our world as we continue our work to find treatments and bring relief for those suffering from tropical diseases worldwide. This is a true testimony to perseverance in public health, and it doesn't get any more important than this. The results from this trial also hold promise for breakthroughs in finding vaccines against other tropical diseases.

He adds a plea for more money for research.

This accomplishment – more than 24 years in the making – underscores the importance of long-term investment in research. Without it, we might never have come this far. And without continued support, further progress could be stymied.